Astronomical device



March 8, 1932. D. PHILLIPS 1,848,974

ASTRONOMICAL DEVICE Filed May 2e, ,1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 8, 1932. D, PHiLLlPs 1,848,974

ASTRONOMICAL DEVICE Filed May 26, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESSES ,paqieP/gtlgv/m BY I l l )af/M ATTORNEY PatentedY Mar. 8, 1932 iJNrrlszDA STATES nAvIn 'PHILLIPs or nAYToNA BEACH, FLORIDA AscrRoNoMicAL DEVICE Appuationmed my as, 1930. serial No. 455,737.

This invention relates to improvements in educational devices, and more especially in the astronomical device patented by David Phillips,'J une 28, 1927, 1,634,207, and it consists of theconstructions, combinationsv and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of theinvention is to improve the means whereby the gure herein identified as the moon and its shadow is made to preserve a true horizontal position during every portion of its rotation about the earth Sphere.

A further object of the invention is toemploy as' a part of this means, a certain stationary sprocket in reference to which a crank arm'- carrying the moon gure is revoluble,

the application of achainto saidfsprocket as well as to a revoluble sprocket on the moon figure shaft not only being the means whereby the foregoing horizontal relationship is preserved, but `also the means by which a perfectly smooth action is obtained. Y Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference'be- Y ing had'tojthe accompanying drawings in which f AFigure 1 is a vfront elevation of an astronomical device somewhat on.v the order ofthat in the patent already mentioned,

line 2 2,

Figure 3 is a rear elevation ofthe device,-

parts being shown in section. y Y

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken Y on line 4-4 of Figure 1. f A

VA base member 10 has an upstanding panel lltowhich a central .dial 12 is ixe'dly secured in concentric relationship to a ring 13. This ring is held in a stationary position both by means of a bracket 15-which is, secured to the base 10,'and by means of a bracel which extends to a point of attachment of the top of the panel 11 (Fig. 2). The annular slot 14 is traversible by a shaft 45. 17 (Fig. 4) as well as a carried sleeve 18.

It is by these elements that the moon figure generally denoted 19 is carried.`V The moon figure comprises a sphere 20 which is secured to the shaft 17 in any appro-ved way. The shaft 17 ifs ixedly secured to an arm 21 which Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the 1 is capable of rotary motion in the operation of theldevice. The'shaft 17 and sphere'20 move with the arm/but are incapablef of any relative movement whatsoever. v y Y The moon ligure 19 includes a cone 22which 55' is so situated .as to represent its shadow.` It

is the principal purpose of the inventionto maintain the shadow 22 in a true horizontal positionwhile the annular slot 141is travl. ersed, andA for this purpose the cone 22 is se- 50 cured at 23 (Fig. 4) to thersleeve 18. This sleeve is capable ofrotaryv motion in respect to the shaft 17, otherwise the `desired horizontal position of the shadow or cone 22 could not be preserved. y 1

A sprocket 24, secured to the sleeve 18 has a chain 25 .applied thereto as shown in F igure 3. This chain also passes around Va sprocket 26 (Fig. 2) which is herein known asthe stationary sprocket. This sprocket is 'm rendered stationary or stationary by virtue of its attachment at 27 to av stationary sleeve 28 that at one end has aange 29, or its equivalent, by means of which attachment is'mad'e to the panel 11.

At its opposite 'or outer end the stationary sleeve 28 has secured theretoa cone 30 which, as inthe instance ofthe moon 'ligure 19, is intended to represent the shadow of the earthl Y sphere 31." Theearth sphere `iscapable of 30 rotation by fvirtue of beingattachedto a central shaft 32, but the cone 30 remainsimmov-k able by virtue of its mounting on the sleeve 28.

The means'by which `motion 'is imparted both to the'arm`21' and the shaft 32 comprises 85 the following A pulley 33 and -sprocket 34, Y each fixed on the shaft 32 (Fig. 2), have a drive belt 35 and a chain V36. respectively applied thereto. The chain 36 extends to' a sprocket 37 which is mounted on one end of a 90 counter yshaft 38 that is supported by the panel 11. This counterV shaft has another sprocket 39 (Fig. 3) to which as well as to a sprocket 40 a chain 41 is applied.

The sprocket 40 is part of a sleeve42 which 95 is revolublevv upon the stationary sleeve 28. The sleeve-42 carries the .arm 21 previously` mentioned as well'as the counterl balancingv l arm 43 to which a weight 44. is applied. Thus Y far it 4will bev understood that rotation ofthe 100 'l5 32: 'and of the arml 21, the latter :receiving itsrv driven so long as the required ratios are obtained, or in other words as long asthe earthV sphere 21 and moon figure 19 move at. the proper relative rates.

Revertillg'o the structurali'eatures in Figure 2itvis to be observed that the revoluble sleeve 42,'is heldin its place on the sleeve 28,

byV a collar 45 which Ais set on the sleeve 23. The opposite end of the sleeve 42 abuts the hub of the static sprocket 26. The cone 30V (Fig.1) to which reference has been made, is securedto thestationarysleeve 28 (Fig. 2)

inany appropriate mannerand is thus ren-` dered stationary 4in relationship to the earth sphere. Y

A recess 46,in backv of `the"`cent1al dial 12 receives the ilange 47 of a collar 48` which is also secured to the stationary sleeve 28. The flange is secured to the dial, for example, by a screw or equivalent means 49, whereby the central dial is held in the stationary position previously spoken of.

The remaining vstructure is substantially on the order of the disclosure in-David Phil-v lips Patent 1,634,207. ForV example, the ring; 13 is provided with graduations 50 whichrepresent the daysy of movement of the moon in itsforbit (or, in other words, the

space covered by the moon in oneday. The' central dial 12 has' graduationsl which represent the'hours of a day. These graduationsmay be supplemented with any desired indicia, but since the instantinvention is concerned chiefly withthe means for keeping the moon ligure 19 inthe desired horizontal pol sitionthis indicia is not required to be elaborated upon.

It will be apparent at once fromthe foregoing description that the; mechanical arrangement of the means for revolving the earth sphere 31 and causing the moon figure to traverse its orbit (Fig. 2) has the advantage oibeing completely concealed by the central dial 12 and ring 13. In this respect alone the instant deviceis an improvement on the foregoing patent in which the carrying element of the moon figure is in full view, thus detracting somewhat froml the effectiveness of the device as a demonstrator. y

to the :pulley-33 bymeans of the belt-35 (Fig-.i`

2)Y causesV simultaneous rotation of* the shaft It is regarded as of little moment how the shatJ32a-nd sleeve 42aref motion through the driving means 34, 37, 39, 41 and 40.

The latter means is a sprocket integral with the sleeve 42 that carries the arm (Fig. 2). It will be understood that as the arm 21 carries the moon figure 19 around there Will be a continuous winding and unwinding of the chain 25 (Fig. 3) in reference to the stationary sprocket 26. i

Thus action of the chain 25 causes a turningofy the sleeve :18 (Fig;.r4) relatively to the shaft 17 which is fixed on the arm 21. The cone 22're'presenting the shadow of the moon, therefore, undergoes a continuous change in position inre'latinship to the shaft 17, but is made to maintain: the identical horizontal position in reference to the dial 12 andring 13 which it traverses. f l

It has been pointed out thatone of thelspe'- cific purposes ofthe invention `is to maintain the horizontality of the moon shadow22 in reference to the dial 12 and ring 13,1it being assumed that4 the -luminary which causes the* casting of the shadow is located'at a remoteHV point at the `right (Fig, 1). A secondary- Y purpose is Vto conceal the actuatingymecha, r nism so that only the essential elements-,of

the Vdevice are visible.

While the construction andarrangement of the improved astronomical device is ,that ofl a; generallypreferred form, obviously modi'iications and changes may be made without departing Jfrom,l the spirit ot the in` vention or the scope of the claims,.-

I claim 1. `An astronomicaL device;comprisingan'- earth sphere, a'moon figure,- cone representmgil the moon shadow, means-for movingsl the moon figurel in.:an' orbital path'. around the@ earth sphere, and,` means i for keepingthe cone in a horizontal position during the-orf bital travel of. thelmoon figure; comprising: a

stationary sprocket, a.f chain, and driven;E means carryingsaid cone', said f driven; -means f being driven bythetchain. 1

2.V In an astronomical device, a arm, a sphere havingfal shaft vfixedlzto1 the arm, a cone extending-from th'esphere1repre=" senting its shadow, -a sleevel carrying-the cone and being mounted? on "the shafQtandmeans stationary Ain reference te thearm having'a driving connection with the sleeve cans-- mg a continuous change ofposition oftheJ cone in reference to the sphere during the revolution of thel arm.

cone extendingiromthe sphere andjrepresent ing its shadow, asleeve revoluble on the shaft.

and carrying asprocket, the conebein'gfrigidly connected-tothe sleeve and achain con necting .both sprockets 1 causing continuousl revoluble Y changeof position ofthe cone in reference to the sphere during the revolution of the arm.

4. In an astronomical device, a stationary e sleeve, a sphere having an attached shaft revoluble in the sleeve, and a cone extending from the sphere and representing its shadow, said cone being attached rigidly to the sleeve hence stationary in respect to the sphere.

5. In an astronomical device, a stationary sleeve, a revoluble sleeve mounted thereon, an arm having an extension on each side of the revoluble sleeve, a sphere having a shaft attached to one end of the arm, a cone extending from the sphere to represent `its shadow, means for both supporting the cone and hav-A ing connection With the stationarysleeve for causing relative turning of the cone during revolution of the arm, and a counter weight on the opposite end of the arm balancing the structurecarried by the first end.

DAVID PHILLIPS. 

